Why just listen to music when you can watch it too? This month, we asked The Lincoln Center staff, “What is your favorite music video of all time?“
Watch these epic music videos, then check out our Spotify playlist to listen on repeat!
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“Here it Goes Again” by OK Go
“‘Here it Goes Again’ by OK Go is an incredible music video. I might even venture to say it’s revolutionary. 😊” —Rachael
“Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel
“Claymation and stop motion animation are my two favorite filmmaking techniques and this music video is one of the most stunning representations of both mediums. See for yourself.” —Matt
“Frontier Psychiatrist” by The Avalanches
“I honestly don’t think there is a music video that can compare to this wacky, crazy ride… except maybe Rob Cantor’s ‘Shia LaBeouf.’ Created from only samples, this catchy little diddy is the only song that could ever successfully pull off this daring concept of random clips and have it feel intentional. Between sound and vision, this music video has always been the most memorable for me even twenty years later.”—Alison
“You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
“When I think of music videos, the first thing that comes to mind is getting ready in the morning in high school. For me, this was in the mid to late aughts, so hits from Christina Aguilera to Fall Out Boy were on. My love for Taylor Swift was also growing during this time and the ‘You Belong With Me’ music video from 2009 definitely still plays in my mind.” —Taylor
“Venus Fly” by Grimes feat. Janelle Monae
“As a visual artist, music videos have been a huge inspiration for me. I really enjoy seeing other artists’ visions for their music, and I have yet to find one more impactful than Venus Fly by Grimes feat. Janelle Monae. It’s visually stunning, but still gives you insight into who the artists are. There are references to other cinema, video games, and all of the nerdy things that define Grimes, with the Avant Garde fashion and quirky personality of Janelle Monae.” —Todd
“I Need You” by Jon Batiste
“My current favorite, don’t know if it will last for years, is Jon Batiste, ‘I Need You’. He makes me want to dance, and I really can’t dance! I love the song and the dancing is fabulous! Just makes me want to get up and shout! And don’t miss the security guard at the end…” —Robin
“Thriller” by Michael Jackson & “Sabotage” by Beastie Boys
“I’ve spent countless hours ‘watching’ music! My teen years were in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the golden era of MTV and VH1. (Ya know, back in the day when those channels actually played music as their titles—Music Television, Video Hits One—clearly intended.) Music videos were my life! (Seriously, I loooooved me some Pop-Up Videos!) I remember getting together with my friends after school and deciding whose house we were going to go to so that we could sit and watch the top video countdown of the day. We were riveted to see what songs were moving up on down on the chart and always betting which video would land in the top spot. My love of music in video form runs deep, so I have two.”
“After all the music videos I’ve consumed, I keep going back to the one that set the gold standard for them all. This video has now reached legendary status since it was release in 1982. It’s recipe for perfection was part love story, part campy horror film, part choreographic genius, part visual effect mastery and all spectacularly ‘thrilling’ fun! A few years ago my young son watched it with me for the first time. The second the video ended, he asked to watch it again…just like I continue to do all these years later.”
“OMG!!! I remember when this video dropped! As a huge fan of the Beastie Boys, this video was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen! Directed by Spike Jonze, this low-budget beauty takes all its hilarious cues from ‘70s cop shows. The BBoys, who play both the good guys and the bad guys in the video, rock cheesy clothes, wigs, and mustaches and roll around town in a beat-down cop car. Filled with fights, chases, rooftop jumping and over the top cop antics, it’s pure campy perfection!” —Victoria
“Learn to Fly” by Foo Fighters
“I like the Foo Fighter’s ‘Learn to Fly’. Dave Grohl is goofy when playing the characters.” —Liz
*Liz also likes “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. “I was in college and everyone would gather around and watch MTV to see it.”
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